A recent CBS segment reported that a Mississippi man spent nearly half his life in jail for the murder of four people. Thanks to work from an investigative podcast and investigative reporters, the man was permanently released. He can breathe easy knowing that his convictions have been overturned and that he doesn’t have to live [...]

When a crime has been committed and your name has come up either as a witness or as a suspect, there are different varieties of questioning by law enforcement that may occur based on the circumstances. You have constitutional rights under either scenario, regardless of what you are led to believe. You also have options [...]

A report in GW Commonwealth disclosed that Mississippi will begin a unique program: allowing people with felony drug convictions to apply for food assistance from the federal government. The report cites more information from the Clarion Ledger which stated that the policy will start July 1, 2019. The program is expected to help about 67,000 [...]

There are a broad range of assault crimes in Mississippi. The penalties for a conviction include the possibility of significant jail time, heavy fines, court costs, and other consequences. Convictions mean a loss of freedom. Having a criminal conviction on your record can make it hard to get a job. The length of the sentence [...]

There is an aspect of the criminal justice system which, on the face of it, seems to be the opposite of justice, and that is civil asset forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture occurs when the government seizes property under suspicion of its involvement in illegal activity. The person does not need to be charged with a [...]

Crimes are generally categorized as infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. How a crime is classified affects: The length of the prison sentence Where a convicted person will spend time in jail or prison The amount of the fines, penalties, and fees Which court and which judge hears the case Minor offenses (infractions) such as traffic violations [...]

If the actual criminal justice system in Mississippi were anything like it is in films or television, then every defendant would be innocent (or at least heroically justified), and every one of them would give an impassioned speech about his or her innocence (or that justification) while on the stand. In truth, one of the [...]

There is a new plan in the Senate called the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which claims to offer genuine reform in regards to mandatory minimum sentences and correctional facilities. So far, the most incredible thing about the plan is that it has bipartisan support; however, even if it passes only a small amount of [...]

Most people might not realize it; but the crime of assault does not always involve physical contact. An assault can consist of a threat of bodily harm along with the ability to carry out the threat and actually cause harm. As long as the assailant has the intent to cause the intended victim fear of [...]

“Theft” is a vague term, and the penalties of the theft charge you face can vary wildly depending on what was taken, how much it was worth, where it was taken from and whether you are accused of threatening someone in the course of the alleged thievery. There are four basic types of theft charges [...]